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Shipping a car across the pond might seem like a daunting task, but for most destinations, it's actually a simple process. All it takes is some research and planning – here's where to start.

Find Potential Shippers

A quick Google search reveals that there are quite a lot of car shipping companies out there, so you'll want to do your research to make sure you're picking the right one.

When reviewing a shipping company, keep an eye out for the following:

Credentials and certifications (such as American Moving and Storage Association certification, or BBB certification)

Licensing (All domestic transporters must have a Department of Transportation license, and freight forwarders should have a license from the Federal Maritime Commission)

Insurance

Whether the company uses licensed and insured third-party services

Request and Compare Quotes

Once you find a handful of companies that are licensed, insured and well-recommended, you can start requesting quotes for the shipping job. If you make sure you're getting quotes only from solid shipping providers, it'll save you time and energy and keep you from getting tangled up in a potential scam.

Keep in mind that the quotes you receive include more information than just the final dollar amount. You'll want to look for the following detail, in addition to the ocean freight costs themselves:

The type of service: Is it port-to-port, door-to-port or door-to-door?

The shipping method: Do they ship with a roll-on, roll-off container, or an ocean container? Will the container be shared, or will your car be by itself?

Domestic transportation: Does the company include transportation of your car on land in its price, or is that bid just covering ocean transport?

Destination fees: There will always be destination fees involved

– it's just a matter of what type of service is being quoted. If it's a door-to-port or port-to-port service, the destination fee will include unloading, U.S. customs clearance and transportation from the arrival port. * Insurance: Companies might offer in-house insurance, or they might contract a third-party insurance provider. Coverage can cost 1.5 to 2.5 percent of the shipping value, and though it's rarely necessary, it's available for peace of mind.

Research the Shipping Time

Shipping a car overseas can be a lengthy process, so do your homework on how long each potential company would take to ship your car to its destination.

The fastest way to get your car overseas is to book your own 20-foot shipping container, supply all the necessary paperwork and pay off the bill immediately. Your shipper would then get your car cleared through customs and loaded on the next available vessel. However, this is also the priciest option – some cheaper (but slower) ways to ship your car are:

The roll-on, roll-off method: Your car would be driven into a vessel's hull, where it would be secured and braced. This method is usually significantly cheaper, but doesn't provide the same protection for your car that a container would, and it usually takes longer.

Vehicle shipping: With this method, your car would ship in a container, but it would ship with other vehicles headed toward the same destination. The company might have to wait to send off the shipping vessel until it fills to a certain threshold, which might delay the shipping time and slow the overall process.

You might also see if the company you choose has a shipping port that's closer to your car's final destination, which might quicken the shipping process.

Get Your Paperwork in Order

Once you've taken the above information into account and chosen a shipping company, it's time to gather all the documents you'll need to get that car overseas.

Typically, you'll need the following in order to ship a car:

A clear, original title

A copy of the bill of sale

A copy of your passport

Check with your shipping company to see if your car's departure or arrival port requires any additional paperwork, such as a notarized power of attorney or an import approval.

Have Your Car Inspected

Before you hand over your car to any shipping company, have it serviced and inspected. Fill out an inspection report, complete with pictures, so you know exactly the condition your vehicle was in when it left your possession. That way, you'll be able to spot any potential damage post-shipping.

Keep in mind that most car shipping companies perform their own vehicle inspections, as well, but it's always safer to have one of your own, just in case.